Boris Johnson has resigned as the Prime Minister of United Kingdom following two days of desperate attempts to cling onto power
Boris Johnson has resigned as the Prime Minister of United Kingdom (U.K.) on Thursday, i.e., July 7, 2022, following two days of desperate attempts to cling onto power amidst rising number of resignations from his Government.
Around 60 Conservative MPs resigned from their positions in recent days at both senior and junior levels, raising doubts about the Government’s ability to function. The latest ones to resign were Chancellor of the Exchequer – Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary – Sajid Javid. They resigned over the botched handling of the resignation of Johnson’s Former Deputy Chief whip in a sexual misconduct scandal.
Taking it to twitter, Johnson tweeted,
I want to thank you, the British public, for the immense privilege of serving you as Prime Minister.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 7, 2022
I want you to know that from now until my successor is in place, your interests will be served and the government of the country will be carried on.https://t.co/T4kJoxmZ8q pic.twitter.com/Hn4rDUV319
In the wake of the so-called Partygate scandal over illegal gatherings held at Downing Street in defiance of Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns, several senior members of Johnson’s cabinet began quietly preparing for a future leadership contest. Johnson survived a vote of confidence on June 6, 2022, but more than 40% of Conservative lawmakers declared that they had lost confidence in his ability to govern.
Johnson said he would continue as caretaker leader till the Conservative Party launches the process of choosing a successor, but the senior leaders of his party said it will be unsustainable, given the fact that people don’t want to work with him. Usually, when a Conservative Leader resigns, he or she gives the party time to hold a thorough leadership contest, in which Conservative lawmakers and then party members nationwide vote.
The Foreign Secretary of U.K. – Liz Truss tweeted, “The PM has made the right decision. The Government under Boris’s leadership had many achievements – delivering Brexit, vaccines and backing Ukraine. We need calmness and unity now and to keep governing while a new leader is found.”
The Leader of the Opposition Labour Party – Keir Starmer, said it is good news for the country that Johnson has resigned. He also said that Johnson should have resigned long ago. Calling Johnson unfit for the office, he accused him for lies, scandal and fraud on an industrial scale.
Conservative MP – Steve Baker said Deputy Prime Minister – Dominic Raab should be caretaker Prime Minister. Raab has deputized for Johnson in the past when Johnson was hospitalized for COVID-19 and then again briefly last month when Johnson underwent “routine” operation and was put under general anesthetic. However, Raab said he would not stand as next Conservative Party Leader.
Johnson was elected as the Prime Minister of U.K. after a landslide victory in December 2019 on the promise of delivering a Brexit deal and leading the U.K. to a bright future outside the European Union (E.U.).
Last month, he survived a confidence vote among members of his own party, but the final count of his lawmakers who rebelled against him was higher than his supporters expected as 41% of his own parliamentary party refused to back him. He suffered a further blow late last month when his party lost two parliamentary by-elections in a single night, raising new questions about his leadership.
